This one is simple for me, though many may disagree. If I was starting the season right now, Kosuke Fukudome is my everyday centerfielder. I like Reed Johnson a lot. I know he did great things for us last year in that platoon role, but the fact is that he’s not an everyday, 150 start kind of guy. I truly believe he can be the kind of guy we need in a platoon role, but not as an everyday starter.

Fukudome, on the other hand, was a bit of a disappointment last year and very much needs to rebound. I feel like a lot of the failures were due to being in a new country, with the longer schedule, more travel, and day/night games. That’s a lot of transition for a guy to get used to in addition to being away from a newborn baby and wife while trying to learn what to expect from all the pitchers. You’re going to see a much better Fukudome at the plate this year, but the only way to see it is to give him the starts he needs to put up the numbers we paid for.

Joe Aiello is the founder of View From the Bleachers and one of the lead writers. Growing up in Chicago, he fondly remembers attending games in the bleachers before that was the popular thing to do. Currently Joe resides in North Carolina with his wife and three kids and helps people protect their assets as an independent insurance agent.
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I like the idea of a platoon in center, with Johnson getting occasional starts against righthanders. Of the two I think Johnson will have the better stats unless Kosuke can cure his habit of starting to run to first while he is still swinging. That might be a tall order!

Billy H

I really really love what Reed brings to the table. Given a full time role I do believe he can succeed. Unless Kosuke can totally impress in the spring I see Reed the starter and Kasuke spelling him. I hope the Cubbies have done whatever it takes to make Kosuke comfortable and ready for year two. They are new to this afterall but hopefully Lou has guided the organization into the right tact to take.

Mastrick

Gotta agree with you there Billy, Johnson is a “heart and soul” kinda player. Still don’t know why Toronto gave up on him so easily; my big concern with him always is that he’s going to charge the ivy!

I like the way we left 2B up to competition last year, I like the way we’re doing it again this year with different players and my instinct is that CF will be a good competition too. You don’t always have set players for every position – Leo Durocher learned that the hard way in 1969 when he tired out his everyday players.

At this stage of the game I have to say “in Uncle Lou we trust;” Hendry hasn’t done a bad job either.

Mastrick

Gotta agree with you there Billy, Johnson is a “heart and soul” kinda player. Still don't know why Toronto gave up on him so easily; my big concern with him always is that he's going to charge the ivy!

I like the way we left 2B up to competition last year, I like the way we're doing it again this year with different players and my instinct is that CF will be a good competition too. You don't always have set players for every position – Leo Durocher learned that the hard way in 1969 when he tired out his everyday players.

At this stage of the game I have to say “in Uncle Lou we trust;” Hendry hasn't done a bad job either.